[email hidden] (Augasm) wrote in
news:[email hidden]:
Quoted message said:Hello,
I'm hoping some kind people out there can help recommend a bicycle for
me. I've been wanting a new one for a while, but I'm never sure enough
about the one I'm demo-ing to drop so much money on it.
I'm 6'5" and ~255lb. I will ride mostly for utility's sake, i.e.
commuting and getting around town, but certainly for occasional
recreation as well. I had a Bridgestone "10-speed" 20 years and 65lb
ago, and bent it something fierce riding around Philadelphia. So I
bought a Trek 700 hybrid which fared better for urban riding, but
still over the years I had to replace the rear rim because I put a
flat side on it after coming down only a little hard, had to put on a
much stronger seat post after bending the first one pretty far back,
and put on a longer handlebar stem so that I wasn't so cramped, but
makes steering more difficult. That bike is pretty shot through now,
and it's time for another.
Many from the bike subculture (particularly those in the bike shops)
seem to be proud when a bike gets bent and things need replacing and
upgrading, but I'd rather have made the proper choice in the first
place, and then keep money in my pocket rather than shelling out
constantly for parts that I don't feel should have let me down.
My natural instinct is to go with a Mountain bike, as I assume that
stands to be even stronger, but I'll be really riding almost entirely
on pavement, and I'm moving soon to a place with much better quality
roads, so I wonder about a street bike as well-but I don't want to
double the price of the bike by retrofitting it with components as I
sequencially bend them. I've had a cyclo-cross bike suggested to me,
but they're so specialized so as to be out of my price range
(~$5-600).
Can anybody recommend a style and model of bike that would fit me and
not give out through reasonable use?
I'm 6'2" and in your weight range, and I was looking for something similar
recently. My main use for the bike was in-town commuting (where the
pavement is rough in spots), and for riding non-technical trails and fire
roads.
I ended up getting lucky and finding a secondhand "29'er" mountain bike
that someone had built up just the way I would have done (Surly Karate
Monkey frame, solid front fork)... but here are a few recommendations from
my former shopping list, when I was looking to buy new:
1) Kona makes a special heavy-duty MTB called the "Hoss" for heavy riders:
http://www.konaworld.com/kw_index.cfm The price is $800 but it's probably
available at a discount from dealers. It might be in shooting range of your
budget. I don't like the 32-spokes (should be 36 or more), but at least the
rims look strong.
2) If you're looking for more of a road bike, the Bianchi Volpe is a
touring/cyclocross bike with a steel frame and 36 spoke heavy duty touring
rims: http://www.bianchiusa.com/volpe.html The retail price is about
$800... you might find this discounted. I'd run it with wider 38c or even
44c tires if they'll fit the frame, to handle the extra weight and provide
a comfortable ride. And I'd get rid of the suspension post, since those
things aren't designed for riders much over 200 lbs. Otherwise, it seems
like a nice solid bike.
3) Fuji touring bike, about $700 I think, but check around. Similar to the
Bianchi Volpe, and it has heavy duty 36-spoke wheels. Again I'd recommend
slightly wider 38c to 44c tires if they'll fit the frame.
I know all three are over the budget you mentioned, but I don't think
you'll find any special "heavy duty" bikes for less than this. A lot of it
is in the wheel build, and you'll also be getting cheaper components
(cranks, etc.) at lower prices, which may be more prone to damage.
If you need to spend closer to $500, then maybe just get a cheap $300
hardtail mountain bike (preferably with no front suspension), and spend the
extra $200 on having some heavy duty 36-spoke wheels built up for it. And
try using 2" slicks or semi-slicks unless you actually need knobbies for
traction in off-road mud. Fat slicks are fine for pavement. Use plenty of
pressure to help support your weight. I'm running 2" Schwalb Big Apple
semi-slick tires on my Karate Monkey frame, and I love the way they ride. I
don't miss having a front suspension fork at all, and I use fairly high
pressure -- about 55 psi front, 65 psi rear (they're rated for 70).
I hope this helps, and good luck with the search.
--
Mike Barrs
